European Parliament elections 2019: results and analysis

House of Commons Library

European Parliament elections 2019: results and analysis

• This briefing paper analyses the results of the 2019 European Parliament elections, focussing on both the UK and EU-wide results.
• Elections to the European Parliament (EP) were held across the European Union between 23 and 26 May 2019.

Article 50 and the European Parliament elections in the UK

• One key consideration was a desire to avoid UK participation in the EP elections on 23-26 May 2019.
• In seeking two extensions to the Article 50 period in March and April 2019, the Government initially intended that the UK would still leave the EU before the date of the EP elections in order to avoid the UK taking part.

Reallocation of UK seats in European Parliament

• The issue of UK participation in the EP elections was further complicated by the envisaged reallocation of UK EP seats after Brexit.
• EU legislation adopted in 2018 reallocated 27 of the UKs 73 EP seats to other Member States, with 46 left over for potential new Member States.

The EP elections in the UK

• These were the Brexit Party, led by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, and Change UK set up by former Labour and Conservative MPs who wish to remain in the EU.
• The Conservative party did not publish a manifesto but said it was the only party that could get Brexit done.

UK results

• The Brexit Party came first in the UK, winning 32% of the popular vote in Great Britain, and taking 29 seats.
• The Conservatives and Labour won the fewest seats since the UK joined the EU, four and ten.

EU wide results

• The two largest Political Groups in the European Parliament, the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) and the centre-left Socialists & Democrats (S&D) both suffered losses across the EU.
• Both the Polish and Hungarian Governments have faced calls for EU-level investigations into their respect for the rule of law and EU values.

The New Parliament

• Thechart below shows the changing balance between Political Groups compared to the outgoing EP.
• Between them the pro-EU Political Groups (EPP, S&D, Renew Europe Greens-EFA) hold 513 seats (68%).

Post Brexit EP

• Following Brexit the size of the EP will be reduced to 705 MEPs, and the 27 reserve MEPs will take up their seats.
• This will benefit the two Groups without UK MEPs, the EPP and ID Groups, both of which will gain 3 MEPs.

Election of Commission President and other top EU jobs

• Under Article 17 (7) TEU it also elects the European Commission President after the candidate is proposed by the European Council.
• These include EP President, President of the European Council, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security and President of the European Central Bank.



Commons Briefing papers CBP-8600